Safety signal apparatus.



J. H. ALANDAR @L R. MOGREGOB.. SAFETY' SIGNAL APPARATUS.

' APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 29, 1910.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. vH..LS.I.A1\IYDAP.e R. MU'GREGOR.

SAFETY lSIGNAL APPARATUS.

APPLIoATIoN FILED Aue. ze, 1910.

Patented Feb. 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

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QA CA @OPPOSITE TRACK INVENTOR,Sl

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aosnrn n'. .sn-Annan .ann naviaonn amenacen, or CHICAGO, rLLINoIs.

sarna? SIGNAL APPARATUS.

Specification oi Letters Patent.

Patenten rei). 2o, `ieia Application filed August 29, 1910. Serial No'. 579,620. l

vTo ill 'whom may concern:

Be it known that we,JosEPH H. ALANDAR and Rams, un MCGREGOR, citizens oi the vUnited States, residing at Chicago, in the' county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new andv useful improve` ments in Safety Signal Apparatuspf which' the following is a specification @ur invention relates to signal apparatus, and has for its object the warning of persons alighting from a car, such as a street car, of the approach oi" any vehicle oliscared by the car from which the person is alighting, so as to prevent the passage of the person from behind the car into the path of the approaching vehicle.

Our inventionis especially applicable to street cars Aand other railway vehicles operating on double 'trae-ks, where allhcars run in one Adirect-uni on one track, as in 'the street railway systems ot' the larger'cities.,

where-accidents of theV character aboveal-4 luded to are frequent.

*Our invention consists -in the' details oi construction and arrangementy as will hereinafter be more fully described and claimed.4 In the drawings, Figure l is a.V general' diagrammatic view of the 'arrangement of tur improved signal apparatus, together with certain details oi" the car equipment associated therewith, the car being represented by the dotted outline. Figs.2 and 3, are-,' respectively, a sectional detail View of the actuating `push button and a side ele' vation of -the releasing or discontinuing push-button, these two push-buttons reti' erably being identical -in structure. Fig. fl is partial vertical' section of the controller, illustratin the arrangement of the contact linger an i segment therein; fig. 5 is a. partial :cross section 'of same. Fig. 6 is. a perspective vie-w of the rear endof the car with oui-improved signal attached thereto, the arm bein represented as raised-into displayingpositlon. -F ig. 7 is a similar yiew, representing the arm'dropped cnt oiL displaying posit-ion. f Fig. 8 is av vertical sectionalY side elevation 'of the signal, with the arm raised and the various other parts in corresponding positions. section on the line X o'ig. 8, part of the arm being `broken away. -Fig l0 is a 4detail of the actuating-switch.

ils we prefer tof-embody our invention, he car l has its forward and rearward ends 1"', respectively, each Vpifided with ig. 9 is a cross a.. signal arm 2, pivotally. mounted on a signalbox 2a by means of a mounting 2 on a When in displaying position the arm 2 is.

designed to extend horizontally outward' as illustrated in Figs; l, 6,v 8 andi), but' when not in displayingposition to assume, under the action' o'f gravity, a vertical position at the 'side of the boxA 2a and be concealed of the end of the car adjacent to the step or exit la, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 7,-a-t about the height ofthe-eyes of a person'on thereby. Thesignal box. 2E' with the arnr Y 2 mounted thereonis located near the side the ground near the-ste and the-signalV arm 2 is locatedon the si e of the'box away from the step, so that when thearm is bes i' hind the box it' is concealed from the passenger alighting fromthe car. The box 2a may have adownward extension 2*"011 the side 'adjacent-to the arm, forming a support for the box and al concealment for the arn in its loweredyposition. 1' It' will .be readily understood that `it is' highly desirable that the signal shall not display' any warning except on vthose occasions when, the'danger is imminent, so that "passengers may-.not

grow accustomed to'y the warning fand thus heedless of it. Inside the `box 221,' pivotally 'rod' 3b having a guide 3landyocarrying on its lower end a pole-piece 3c 'which is attracted by an electro-magnet-ell secured-to the bottom or" the box 2a, and whenthis pole` piece is attracted bythe .magnet the armis raised to displaying position. When. the magnet is disengaged thepole-piece bein released, the arm willfall to its'vertica position as above explained; aspring 3" attached to the crank 3a and depending therefrom, is a'v may be provided on therod 3b to engage l with the guide 3V when the arm falls, 'and acts as a cushion. An electric bellis also inountedin the box 2a, and the front2'" of the. box has anopening 5, with ascreen 5 to allow the bell to be clearly heard. The terminals 5a of this bell and the terminals 4a of the magnet 4 are connected, in multiple, to leads 6 and 6 common to the apparatus at both ends ofthe car, as illustrated in Fig. 1. v

An electric lamp 7 is preferably provided inside the box 2a near its top, and an opening 7, in the front of the box, has a glass cover 7, preferably in the form of a lens or bulls-eye, in such position that a light will be thrown on the arm 2 and its si to illuminate it at night. The glass of t e cover 7 may be red, to further heightenA the effect of the signal. One terminal 71 of this lamp is connected directly to one 'of 4 adjusted that it can comebetween the blades 8 and 8 and make electrical connection between them when the rod comes down in drawing the arm 2 upward, thus keeping the lamp 7 lighted as longas the arm 2 is displayed, but will be withdrawn from therebetween when the rod 3b rises during the falling of the arm tp its concealed position, extinguishing the lamp when the displaying of the signal is discontinued. The lamp 7 may be turned oli permanently during the day, along with the regular car lights 7c by means of the switch 7b that controls the lighting circuit.

The current for operating the signal magnet 4 and the bell 5 is part of the current from the trolley wire 9 and` trolley 9a, through the lead 9b, and is shunted from the main circuit that supplies the motors 10 of the car, these being diagrammatically indicated, along with their circuits 10a. merely to illustrate clearly the relationsof therarious signal circuits thereto, as may also be said of the lighting circuits 7b and lamps 7C. As is well known, the current is supplied to the motors 10 through controllers 11 which receive the current from the lead 9" whenl the switch 9c' located in the hood of the car, is closed; this current is received on the shaft 11a of the controller and supplied through any one of the series of fingers 11b and corresponding resistances 11b to the motors, by means of segments 11c on the shaft, as diagrammatically indicated in Fig. 1.

For initiating the actuation of the signal, push buttons 12 are located in convenient positions at the end of the car, to be pressed by the motorman` or by the conductor, as the casemay be, when he sees a car or other vehicle approaching, on the side of his car where such car or other vehicle will be concealed fromv the .alighting passenger as hereinbefore described,` at a time when his car is about to stop, or has stopped, to

discharge passengers. -One terminal 12 of the push button 12 is connected with the current supply of the controller shaft 11a, and the other terminal 12 iS in connection through a lead 12* with an electromagnetic switch 13, immediately controlling the signal, and common to the apparatus at bothy ends of the car. The switch has an electromagnet 13a, to one terminal 13a of whichi the aforesaid terminal 12" of the push button is connected. The other terminal 13 of this' magnet is grounded through the lead 6 which also grounds the bell` 5 and signal magnet- 4. Thus when the push button contacts engage, a current will flow from this controller 11 to energize the magnet 13a; this attracts a lever 13" of the switch, by means of a pole piece 13 thereupon, causing it to make contact with a blade 13.

It is Athe purpose-to discontinue the display of the signal immediately upon the starting of the car after it has discharged passengers with its signals displayed. For discontinuing the display of the signal, the

switch 13 has a second electro-magnet 13d.

This magnetl is in connection with a special finger 14 in the controller 11, through a lead 14a connected to the terminal 13d. The other terminal 13d of said magnet is grounded by connection to the lead 6 above mentioned. The lever 13bvof the actuating switch 13. has another pole piece 13am which is attracted by the magnet 13d, so that it is withdrawn from Contact with the blade 13C and held in the opposite side 13b1 of the switch, when the magnet 13d is energized, thus breaking the circuit that actuaites the Signal as above described. To engage with the special finger 14 fin the corr troller 11, for closing a circuit through the magnet 13d and thus energize it, a special segment 14b is mounted on the controller shaft 11a in such position that it will not engage with the iinger until the shaft has been turned sufficiently to close la circuitl through the motors and start the car. By this means, the *discontinuance of the display of the signals by the reverse action of the switch 13 is automatically accomplished when the car is started, and not left dependf. ent upon the memory of the motorman or conductor.

rlhe segment 14h, above mentioned, is best illustrated in Fig. 5. It will be noted that this segment is so nearly a complete circle that the iinger 14 will make contactwith its periphery throughout the greater part of the revolution of the controller Shaft.

isa Y This greater part corresponds to the range of manipulation provided for changing the speed of the car after it is started. By thus maintaining this contact'at all times when the motive current of the car is turnedA l5 our signal'is to warn against. Always',

i whether or not the car is'stopped when the current is turned oit, the turning of the current on again is sure to discontinue the display, if the signal was displayed, and to the signal must be made after the current is turned off. At no other time is it proper, and at no other time is it possible.

A second push button l5, withterminals and 15, is provided by which the magnet 13d may be grounded independently of the controller contacts 14 and llb to open the signal actuating circuit Without starting the car, when it is desired to do so, as when the cars are compelled to remain stationary for some time when not discharging passengers, as in a blockade or disablenient, at which time it would not be desirable to display the signals. As will be seen, this button does not interfere with the automatic release of-the signals upon starting. ThebfoXQa may be made weather-proof t 'protect'` the inc losed mechanism and the switches and connections may be conveniently located on theplatform and inside the car, no way interfering with any of the regular appointments thereof.

As will be readily seen, the apparatus at both ends of the car are connected in multiple with eachother, as well as with the motor and lighting circuits of thecar, and both apparatus may `be operated simultaneously from either end of the car by such small proportion of the current as is 'taken through the relatively high resistance of the magnets of the apparatus,` butit will be understood that one end only of the car may be equipped with the signal apparatus and operated from both ends, or both ends may be provided with apparatus to be actuated from one end only by mere minor changes in the wiring connections. Likewise, the current for actuating the;i apparatus may be ob- Copies of this patent may 'ne'obtained for ve cents each, by addressing 'che Commissioner of Patents,

prevent its display, in any event, while- `the car is under propulsion.v Each display ofV tained from another source, such as batteries,

or the apparatus may be used in connection with vehicles other than electric cars, by

means of minor changes in details of throw-` ing out devices in connection with the starting device of said vehicles, as, for instance, the connection with the throttle of .a steam, gas or compressed air operated vehicle. Therefore, we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precisedisclosures herein contained, but

-YVliat we claim als new and desire by Letters Patent is:

l. AIn combination, a car and starting and to secure stopping means therefor, and safety signal apparatus therefor comprising a signal member, an actuating magnet and means whereby the actuating magnet displays the -signal member when energized, an immediate signal-controlling switch, closed to energize and opened to dener'gize the actuating magnet, opposed magnets, one closing and the other opening the immediate signal con'- trolling switch, contacts to' momentarily en ergize either of said opposed magnets, and a switch, operated with said starting'and stopping means, and adapted to close-a circuit through and energize the magnet that opens said immediate signal controlling switch.

2. Inc'ombination, an electric car and a controller for starting and stopping and changing the speed of said car, a signal member, an actuating magnet and means whereby the actuating magnet displays the signal member 'when energized, an immediate'signal-coiitrolling switch, closedl to enermoved relatively by the operation .of said controller,'contact between thefinger land segment being made when the car is started,

.and being maintained throughout the speedchanging operation of the controller, but theV contact being broken when the controller is operated'to stop the car, said switch, thus composed and operated, being adapted, whensaid contact is made, tov close a circuit through and energize said magnet thatpens the immediate signal controlling switchQ v*JOSEPH H. 'MANDAR-l -nAYMoND MCGREGOR.

Witnesses:

A. V. LANE, Louis F. W. SOMMER, 

